Combined grass mower and leaf mulcher



NOV. 17, 1953 w, MlLLER T 2,659,191

COMBINED GRASS MOWER AND LEAF MULCHER Filed Feb. 16, 1951 5 H Ill 35 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 17, 1953 GBAS QW R {mil MULCHEB,

Wi llia n F. Miller and Harley E, lfii'oll, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Tom Ma'iiufactiiriiig Corporation, Mifineap ti nofiM nnesetp olis, Minn., 2 it corborai eprlic tiee eti a-x 16, 9. SqfialNq-Ziiflg 5. Claims.

is invention relates to a, comlqined gre tss n owerand leaf; mu1chr. Various mechanisms have been devised for gathering leaves and mplching them iorrturn ojfthe con mini ted material to the soil es tertilizei Likewise, scoresof grass mowersiiave been designed to mow grass and some have been constructed to inulch the same and return the eomrninuted grass-to the soil, but none- "of these devices have been 'success'fu l insimulta'neoiisly and; 'eiiiciently accomplishing 'bptli operations. Grass mower's'previo isly lgnown' will not ga her and mulch the lesive's eiiicientlyend' lee} miilch' ersj ni 'evioiisly lg'now'n dean i nsatistaictorv gi ss mowin operation; Thus, it msalwgys been necessary to have sepzirate mechanisms in order to accomplish both'theseoperetions 515% Test to perform first one, then modify the device, and thereafter perforrri'the other; M

It is a, general object of invention to provide a novel and improved ine'chanisnicp bl of si bstantially irediicing' the ti effort" and materials previously requ red for getting the grass, gathering the wives, and c bihixii' iitiri both 'over a given 'aree.

' A rnere specific object is to provide g, novel grid irpproved inechani'sifi calbab of "si rn iltne sly nd emciently ti irl. and comminutin'g both.

1i still more sp'cif copject is to provide a, combined grass moweram leafYnii-l'cher which" e m eq ro h i 1b h j r 11 t he grass v w ji h. it nee .edn n r g'ras's-alnd leaves, and return thesg rige p thesoil s ie i i H 499m? P Q TEQY, $9. .RE'QYi m t mi 0e: we Q erf rm ng n M Q 1 cutting of grass, the gathering of guy s and the. eeeqe irent s mreim ee f lbqi ie there elim nat th new f ne i rmm eae eiion. sep e and 9 medfiflne he Fig. 3isa; front end elevational view of a 'fies ern of tile hb9im t how i Fig. i is a, perspective view of the air current directing rn'emjoer provided to convert the st tue ti re shown in Fig; 3 from it grass mowerint'o a combined g fass "'r noweran i i lfeaf 'mi lcher. Q e em ie n q zi 'y ti n ien l e as shown in Figs."1 and 2 n'ariipiilar'it name ndiqeted. ener l y 5. n iml 'i a PP entre iosisi'fi ha ng a 5 l dj ior door 1 ,hedt its wer a t d e k e fi cha rg e'h ood 5 hes secured to its opriosite sides new amiable m nner 9 "rot% f e? i Wh ls Al o s cure to th re w d 1 see 6f he si es. 8 s a new? blrte tdrm l c nyer t 1 111 w th et fii b Ri iq r qnne e o the flame 5 i ho lt ne? 11 ifiaiiifieel S 1???" {is sh his "m sing as lQsedj q I a ebe e t o; r 5 1 btt mli en r uet ly heree irtice l id wa !5- t e fir ia d n rt njq th tee: he." .21:; i t st 5 W Fi 2; ri elly dieose and u seeel reqien u e r it; e?- As shown, the rear bortipn it of this hop in; forms rem ebleefrwet v e ed) metal s' etwh eh is, PrQYid -Q w th Pier. .7 9 29 uree 1 rmefi tlae eth oueh he b rtii e i e rtien a shown i SEJHKQQ t9 th Side We ls y ens q 're nq a le .91% L8 as? best bQW iii Ei i' hs eee rwxe fl 'li n netee sag br t ti'eesve se iz 6. th q reeti i met met iee A a r of ear 3% m1 f erw w r e fla i t 1? 9 munerat- A how ie ie -i 12 h ir' i ie q reqtie 'flen e @3 ma b' q fmtd. i i r li zy vithf ie h us n 12.0? 1 ii e l the"??? b we e n er s .e her? o e means plate 24 in both at ui'awa'imy'and downwardly direction is a shaft 26 with a head 21. Keyed to the upper end of the shaft 26 is a pulley 28 which is prevented from longitudinal movement with respect to the shaft 26 by a lock nut 29 and a collar 30. Mounted on the shaft 26 directly above the head 21 is a cutter element indicated generally as 3|. As shown, this cutter element consists of a knife 32 pierced in its medial portion for mounting on the shaft 28 and having its leading edges 33 sharpened at both ends. Its trailing edges 34 are bent upwardly to deflect the air upwardly and create a suction effect beneath the housing when the knife is rotated rapidly. The cutter element 31 is maintained in spaced relation from the bearing 25 by a collar 35. Thus it can be readily seen that the height of the cutter element may be readily adjusted by loosening the nut 29 and inserting an additional or longer collar between the bearing 25 and the cutter element.

A housing plate 36 houses the pulley 28 and is secured to the stiffener plate 24 and the housing l2 by any suitable means such as the bolt 31 separated by a collar 38. Mounted above the discharge hood 6 in any suitable manner is a gasoline motor indicated generally as M. This motor M has a drive pulley 39 which provides a direct power take-01f to the pulley 28 by means of a V-belt 40.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of my invention very similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the forward wall portion of the housing 4! is cut away as at 42 and is provided with a bolt 43 on each of the forward corners. Fig. 4 shows the air current directing member which is provided to be utilized with this structure. It consists of an attachment flange 44 which is curved at its medial portion to conform with the curvature of the housing 4! and has a pair of straight attachment ends 45 with slots 46 formed therein. These slots 46 are adapted to receive the bolts 43 for securement of the attachment flange 44. Rigidly secured to the lower edge of the attachment flange is the air current directing flange 41 which extends inwardly toward the shaft disposed centrally of the housing.

In operation, the motor M drives the cutter element at high speed and the leading edges 33 of the cutter element cut the grass and comminute the leaves during its rotation. The high speed of the cutter element 3! causes the upwardly turned trailing edges 34 to create an upwardly directed draft and to draw the leaves over which the machine passes upwardly therewith. At the same time, the grass is drawn to an upright position so that an eflicient cutting operation may be performed by the rapidly rotating leading edges 33. The upwardly directed air currents created by the cutter element 3! tend to spread when they reach the upper portion of the housing 12 and a substantial share of them are deflected to pass rearwardly through the apertures I! of the rear side wall Hi. The leaves and grass cut by the cutter element 31 are thus carried rearwardly until they either pass through the aperture H or are prevented from doing so by the same. If the particles have not been sufliciently comminuted, they will drop into the path of the rapidly rotating leading edges 33 to be again comminuted and drawn upwardly along with the air circulation. This procedure continues until the particles of leaves and straw have been comminuted sufliciently to be discharged rearwardly through the rear wall portion it and into the discharge hood 5. The

4 swinging door I directs the air flow downwardly against the ground to insure the return of the comminuted material upon the soil from which the grass and leaves have been taken.

As pointed out above, machines previously known for cutting grass would not do an emcient leaf mulching operation. This is true because the air currents which are set up by such a rapidly rotating horizontal cutter element are such as to cause partially comminuted material to be discharged downwardly at the forward wall portion of the housing l2. I have found that by providing a small flange along the forward wall portion only of the housing, the air currents again will be directed upwardly to prevent the discharge of partially comminuted material ahead of the machine. I have also found that it is imperative that this flange extend only across the forward wall portion of the housing, for if such a flange is provided entirely around the lower edge of the housing 12 the machine will not do an efficient job of cutting the grass over which it passes. In other words, even though it would be possible to convert a machine such as is disclosed into a leaf mulcher by placing a flange entirely around the lower edge of the housing l2, such modification would terminate the machines usefulness as a grass cutter unless the flange were removed prior to attempting to cut grass therewith. I have found that by providing a flange shaped and arranged substantially as shown, a machine of the type described will simultaneously and efficiently perform both the grass cutting and the leaf mulching operations.

It should be noted that the function of the flange 23 is not to bodily support the partially comminuted leaves. Its function, rather, is to redirect the air currents so that the air currents which normally descend along the forward wall portion of the housing l2 will be redirected upwardly to assist in the further drawing of leaves and grass into the path of the cutter element 3|. The embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is a slight modification of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The entire machine is made substantially the same except that the forward wall portion of the housing has been cut away so that, if desired, the operator may cut exceptionally tall grass or weeds more efficiently and may out only the grass and not disturb the leaves, if any, which are upon the ground. Whenever the operator desires to perform both operations simultaneously, he may do so by attaching the attachment flange 44 by means of the bolts 43 to the forward portion of the machine.

It is understood, of course, that the mechanisms shown are adapted to be propelled over the surface of the ground by manual force exerted on the handle H.

Thus it can be seen that I have provided a mechanism which will simultaneously out the grass and comminute the leaves over which it passes in a single operation. My device eliminates entirely one of the operations normally required to accomplish the same results. At the same time, it obviates the need for separate equipment to perform these functions and it eliminates a substantial waste of time and materials.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departure from the scope of the present invention.

What we claim is:

1. In a combined grass mower and leaf mulchsets rm saidrliciising having a plurality of relatively small dischargerapertures formed therethroughsa; cutterf eleme'n't. mounted for. rotation within said housing in. a. substantially horizontal planeen a verticataxis disposed centrally of saidihousing, said cutter element. having, a-sharpened leading edge and an upwardly extending trailingied'ge and being of sumcient length to extend outwardly from its axis 'of rotation positions in close proximity to the side wallsf said housing and beingad apted -to-- be cc nriected to a source of rotary power for rapid rotation whereby said trailing edge may create during rotation of said cutter element upwardly directed air currents to draw the grass and leaves upwardly into the path of said sharpened leading edge for eflicient mowing and comminution of the same and to cause the comminuted material to be discharged through said apertures, and an air current directing member carried by said housing and disposed below said cutter element along the forward portion only of said housing and extending inwardly a short distance toward the center of said housing to redirect descending air currents formed within said housing and to prevent partially comminuted material from being carried outwardly beyond the confines of said housing and to permit said cutter element to simultaneously and effectively mow the grass and draw the leaves and cut grass within said housing for efficient comminution of both.

2. A combined grass mower and leaf mulcher comprising an ambulant frame, a shallow vert1- cal housing of generally cylindrical shape mounted on said frame and having a substantially open bottom and closed top and substantially vertical side walls, said housing having vertically disposed forward and rear portions, the bottom of said housing being normally disposed a short distance above the ground, the rear portion of said housing being arcuately shaped and having a plurality of relatively small discharge passages extending therethrough, a cutter element mounted for rotation within said housing in a substantially horizontal plane below the major portion of said passages and on a vertical axis disposed centrally of said housing, said cutter element having a sharpened leading edge and an upwardly extending trailing edge and being of sufficient length to extend outwardly from its axis of rotation in close proximity to the side walls of said housing, mechanism connected to said cutter element for rotating the same at high speeds whereby said trailing edge may create upwardly directed air currents to draw the grass and leaves upwardly into the path of said sharpened leading edge for efficient mowing and comminution of the same and to cause the comminuted material to be discharged through said passages, and an air current directing member carried by said housing and disposed along the forward portion only of said housing and below said cutter blade and extending inwardly a short distance toward the center of said housing to redirect descending air currents formed within said housing and thereby prevent partially comminuted material from being carried outwardly beyond the confines of 6,v said housing and to permit" said' kdrtter element at the same time to eifectiyely mow the grass and draw" the leaves and cut'gra ss withinlthe interior of 'saidhousing for" efficient com-mind tiorioffboth. g j

3. 'In a "combined; grass: mower and leaf mulcher; the. combination ofan ambulant frame," a shallow housing of; generally cylindrical shape carried by saidflframe'and having a-substantially open bottom" and closed top and substantially vertical sidewalls; saidhousing havingan arouately:verticallydisposed rear portion and'a ver ticaliy disposed forward portion, the bottom of said housing being normally disposed a short di s tance abovethe ground, the rear portionof said housing, having a plurality of relatively small discharge 'passages' extending therethrough, a cutter element mounted for rotation withinsai'd usi g." in a ub an al y h r i en al plane, a level below at least some of said passages and on a vertical axis disposed centrally of said housing, said cutter element having a sharpened leading edge and an upwardly extending trailing edge and being of suflicient length to extend outward- 1y from its axis of rotation to positions in close proximity to the side walls of said housing and being adapted to be connected to a source of rotary power for rapid rotation whereby said trailing edge may create upwardly directed air currents to draw the grass and leaves upwardly into the path of said sharpened leading edge for eflicient mowing and comminution of the same and to cause the comminuted material to be discharged through said passages, and a relatively narrow elongated, substantially horizontal flange mounted on said housing and disposed along the forward portion only of said housing below said cutter element and extending inwardly toward the center of said housing and transversely to the direction of movement of said frame and redirecting descending air currents formed within said housing and preventing partially comminuted material from being carried outwardly beyond the confines of said housing and enabling said cutter element to simultaneously and efiiciently mow the grass and draw the leaves and cut grass within said housing for efficient comminution of both.

4. A combined grass mower and leaf mulcher, comprising an ambulant frame, a shallow vertical housing of generally cylindrical shape mounted on said frame and having a substantially open bottom and closed top and substantially vertical side walls, said housing having vertically disposed forward and rear portions, the bottom of said housing being normally disposed a short distance above the ground, the rear portion of said housing having a plurality of relatively small discharge passages formed therethrough, a cutter element mounted for rotation within said housing in a substantially horizontal plane below the major portion of said discharge passages and on a vertical axis disposed centrally of said housing, said cutter element having a sharpened leading edge and an upwardly extending trailing edge and being of sufiicient length to extend outwardly from its axis of rotation to positions in close proximity to the side walls of said housing, mechanism connectedto said cutter element for rotating the same at high speed whereby said trailing edge may create upwardly directed air currents to draw the grass and leaves upwardly into the path of said sharpened leading edge for eificient mowing and comminution of the same and to cause the comminuted material to be discharged through said passages, and an air current-directing flange mounted on said housing and disposed along the forward portion only of said side Walls and below said cutter element and extending inwardly a short distance toward the center of said housing to redirect descending air currents formed within said housing and to prevent partially comminuted material from being carried outwardly therewith beyond the confines of said housing and to permit said cutter element to simultaneously and efiiciently mow the grass and draw the leaves and cut grass within said housing for efficient comminution of both.

5. In a combined grass mower and leaf mulcher according to claim 1, said air current directing member comprising a narrow elongated flange, and a pair of ears carried by said housing at the ends of and substantially coplanar with said 20 8 flange and extending normally rearwardly from the flange to aid in directing the air currents upwardly.

WILLIAM F. MILLER. HARLEY E. KROLL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,198,526 Cockburn Apr. 23, 1940 2,232,671 Loder Feb. 18, 1941 2,242,922 Poynter Nov. 20, 1949 2,489,730 Soenksen Nov. 29, 1949 2,491,544; Arkenberg Dec. 20, 1949 2,538,643 Gregory Jan. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 566,318 Great Britain Dec. 21, 194i 

